Bulls in audacious bid for Diskin

Bradford Bulls have made an audacious attempt to sign Great Britain hooker Matt Diskin from arch rivals Leeds Rhinos.

Ill-feeling between the Super League neighbours erupted again when Bradford contacted the champions to see if they would be prepared to release Diskin when he recovers from a knee reconstruction.

But Rhinos chief executive Gary Hetherington responded by accusing the Bulls of a tit-for-tat response after Leeds' approaches for Bradford duo Jamie Peacock and Jamie Langley last year.

Bulls spokesman Stuart Duffy told the Yorkshire Evening Post: "I can confirm we have approached Leeds to ask if they would be prepared to release Matt Diskin when he has recovered from his injury.

"We understand he is out of contract at the end of the season."

But Hetherington said: "I suspect this may have something to do with the Rugby Football League's decision last week to exonerate Leeds from any wrong-doing regarding an alleged illegal approach to Jamie Peacock and Jamie Langley.

"Bradford Bulls reported Leeds to the RFL and asked for an inquiry. The RFL conducted their inquiry and last week we got the result of that, which was that there was absolutely no evidence at all. Bradford's claim of an illegal approach was completely dismissed."

Leeds insist that Diskin, currently recovering from surgery after sustaining knee ligament damage on his Great Britain debut last November, is not for sale at any price.

"Of course he is not available," added Hetherington. "Matt is recovering from a very serious knee injury and to ask about somebody's availability when he has got another four months rehab before he can consider playing again is strange to say the least."

Bradford are without a specialist hooker following their decision to suspend new signing Ryan Hudson pending a League doping inquiry, which will be heard in Leeds next Wednesday.